Novelist A.B. Yehoshua failed to strike a conciliatory cord in an address to Diaspora Jews yesterday when he reiterated his argument that only Israelis could be "total and committed" Jews.

"People thought I was coming with a request for forgiveness, but no," he said. "I am not speaking with condescension, but rather pointing out the differences between the two realities. This is not a qualitative difference. I am not making a moral judgment but rather stating a factual difference."

Jews outside of Israel, he added, were not "bad Jews" - despite the fact that they "put their Jewishness in a box" and compartmentalize their identities as is convenient.

"Life should be about integration - integration between territory, moral decision making, Judaism, history," Yehoshua said. "That is the fullness [of being an Israeli Jew]. I believe identity should be something we do."

In May, Yehoshua caused a storm when he said that only Israel, and not Judaism, could ensure the survival of the Jewish people. He acknowledged that his speech at the American Jewish Committee's May conference was "brutal" and "aggressive." However, he admitted he was surprised by the outpouring of responses to what he thought was an unoriginal thought.

Yehoshua also stressed his belief that "the Diaspora will always continue to exist. I have no doubt."

The event, which drew a packed audience, was part of the Jewish Agency's annual assembly and was also sponsored by Beth Hatefutsoth.

Rabbi Eric Yoffie, who responded to Yehoshua's remarks, said attempts to create an Israeli identity disconnected from Judaism were not viable. "Secular Judaism cannot be passed on to the next generation," he said. "There is every reason to believe that Israelis can and will assimilate, even if it takes longer than in the Diaspora."

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